Not the biscuit, though they are one of my favourites. I took Sinner out this morning, but due to a kiddie invasion into the bed, and the resulting snuggle time, I didn’t head out until 7am. It was already very hot and humid, and my initial plan to try a new loop (probably around 7km) faded as the temperature rose. I figured I’d just go for the 6km loop, as I wasn’t really enjoying myself much. Sinner was huffing like a steam train, and I changed my plan yet again and decided 5km was enough under the conditions. I got to nearly 5km and my time was great, so I sped up to try and get under my 29 minute best time. Sinner was galloping beside me and I was really feeling the heat, then Sinner stopped galloping and went back into a trot. He’d obviously decided it was just a bit too hot. So I stopped. Maybe a bit disappointed but I thought if I wanted to do what I wanted to do with no regard for how he was doing, he’d be better off left at home. But, I did 4.85km in 28.30 minutes, so I’m convinced I could have come under the 29 minutes if we’d kept that speed up. My average km time was 5.5 minutes per km, so can’t complain too much.
I think the only way I’ll be able to do anything over summer is to head out at 5.30am, so there goes my lazy morning dozing in bed. Especially if I start to increase my distance a bit, it’ll take a bit longer and still need to get back for hubby going to work. It’ll be okay while he’s working just down the road and can leave fairly late, but if he’s working down the southside, I’ll really have to make sure I’m up and about early.
Shin’s feeling good, but agility class tonight always challenges it.
I’ve arranged a babysitter for Saturday morning, so hubby and I can go out for an easy 6km run together. Hope his calf is okay by then, he looked a little sore after doing just over 6km last night.
Woke up this morning to the sound of thunder, but not much in the way of rain. It was hard to get out of bed, it was nice all snuggled up listening to the rumbles from outside. I decided to take Guinness out again, as I’d done a longer (relatively! LOL) run yesterday so thought I’d take it easy on my shin. Thinking about it, poor Sinner hasn’t done much of late! I’ll get him out tomorrow morning. We did week 2 again, only because I hadn’t changed the mp3 on my player, but I’ll get that sorted for the end of the week. When I was dressed and ready to go, the rain literally bucketed down, couldn’t see down the end of our back yard. I just really didn’t fancy going out in that so went and had brekky. I’d given up on the idea of going out, but the rain stopped! Off we went, in just a light shower. It was really nice because it was a humid morning, and the shower of rain just cooled things down a little.
 Guinness didn’t ever raise a pant today, galloping along beside me. I missed the first run interval due to a potty stop by Guinness. Thank goodness we’ve changed his diet - he was on some cheapie supermarket food because I forgot to pick up some decent stuff from work, and I really paid for it when it came to picking up his droppings. He was pooing up to 5 times a day, and it was sloppy. Back on Royal Canin now and poos are starting to firm up again. Expensive tastes, this dog.
As we headed back home after our last interval, the thunder started again - looks like we just sneaked our run in between two large rain clouds!
Feeling a tad burdened today, I don’t enjoy Mondays much. It’s a mad run around from music to swimming to dancing, and there’s dinner to make, laundry to sort, dishes to wash and banking to do too. Hard to fit it all in. Also have to get the kids’ schoolwork to the distance ed college by the end of next week. They’ve done good work, just need to tidy things up and get it all together. I need more hours in the day!!
To get out and do a bit of running with other people and in a different location, I headed out early (very early!!) this morning to go on a run with the Moreton Bay Road Runners in Redcliffe. They’re a really friendly and welcoming bunch, with members at many different stages of their running - from walkers to marathon runners. We started at the Jetty on Redcliffe Parade at 6am, and I ran with a couple of ladies who seemed to be at my level and distance. It’s a stunning spot along the foreshore, especially early in the morning. Stinking hot and humid though, with no breeze at all. We did a comfortable 5.8km in around 34 minutes, and I enjoyed the company - thanks Fleur and V. My shin felt fantastic even though the whole run was on pavement, so maybe I’m cured!!!
I discovered at work yesterday that there’s a shower in the laundry, so that means I may be able to go out with the MBRR on a Saturday before work, go for a coffee then head to work for a shower. Not a bad life, this running, eh? I feel a bit bad for my poor hubby - before I started running he had the freedom to go and run where he wanted when he wanted. Now we might have to negotiate a bit for weekends here and there.He’ll cope, he’s a great bloke.
I decided not to do the Byron Bay run after all. It would be an expensive weekend with travel, accommodation, food and race entry, and it would be a bit of a rushed drive down there with me working until 2pm yesterday. My shin has also been a bit niggly, and although I’ve no doubt I can run 8km, doing 8km up and down hills and along the sand is a different story. So, all things considered, it makes more sense to skip this year, and put it on the calendar for next year. Hopefully we’ll be able to go down and pitch the tent and make a weekend of it with Roseanne and family too.
Still doing week 2 of C25k with Guinness, and trying to go faster in the running parts. The first running interval is always hard, and I also find it tough half way through the 5th interval, but manage to pick up again for the last one. I was thinking today that fast is all relative!! The dog is coping with it all very well, he’s keen to go and not puffed at all. I may well start to look at upping his distance again, I think we’ll head into week 3 next week. I was planning on spending two weeks at each level but I think he’s able to increase a bit faster than that. He’s 7 months old now, and still all legs and ears!
I was reading a magazine at work called My Pet, and it had a snall article about the Bay Run in Sydney, which has a 7km course for dogs and owners. The winners were Alex and Mischa - Mischa looks like a little Silky Terrier with legs that can be measured in the centimetres!! Just goes to show, just about any dog can run! I think it’d be a breach of copyright to copy their picture and put it on my blog, but you can read the magazine online here - the article is on page 9.
..plovers!! Did you really think I was going to say tomatoes? :-) Just down our street I was divebombed by a plover, it came straight for me at head height, screeching loudly. I couldn’t see its chicks anywhere but they must be around. Plover chicks are very cute, they’re little black striped pompoms on long skinny legs.
Hubby is back on the run again, so took Sinner out for an easy run to try out the calf. That let me take Guinness out while Miss 7 was asleep, and we did week 2 again but with a bit of speed. Found it a bit hard today, and was glad to finish. My shin was a bit nigglier than usual so popped some ice on it when I got back - maybe 3 runs in 3 days is a bit much for it at this stage. I’ll be having tomorrow off as I’ll be running around waving my arms at agility class tonight, and that usually leaves me a little achy.
So we’re now doing 90 second runs and 2 minute walks, 6 reps. Miss 7 came out with me again, it’s nice to have her along. Guinness barely broke out of a trot, he just cruised. Miss 7 did 5 of the reps and got a stitch, and we decided to walk for the rest of the program. A good effort for her, she’s very athletic and I have no doubt that when she’s older, she’ll beat me easily. Nice way to start the day.
There’s a fun run at Byron Bay next weekend, on Sunday morning. It’d be just beautiful - 8k along the beach and up around the lighthouse, but not sure if I can justify the entry cost. I’d have to drive down very very early in the morning on Sunday, do the run then drive back around lunchtime. Alternatively, could find a place to stay for the night and we could all go down, but that really adds to the cost big time. I’ll think about it, it would be a nice run to do.
We camped this weekend at Tin Can Bay, I’d never been there before but it’s a beautiful spot, very quiet with calm water and sandy beaches. Perfect for the kids. Guinness discovered the ocean and he just loved it - he had a ball running through the water and tackling Sinner in the sea spray.
I had taken my running stuff with me, on the urging of my hubby, but felt quite indifferent about going out, but on Saturday we went for a walk up to the cafe where the dolphins get fed, then walked all the way south to a creek inlet. It’s a well maintained path along the foreshore, very pretty and quiet, so on Sunday morning I thought I’d get out. No mp3 player, just Sinner and I and virtually nobody else. The interesting thing was, I think I may have discovered why people enjoy running. There was quite a sense of freedom leaving the family at the campsite and heading out on my own with Sinner along this quiet path with the stunning views of the bay. I ran down to the creek and had a couple of minute break to chat to one of the residents, then headed back and went up to where we’d fed the dolphins yesterday morning, and back to the campsite. Grand total of 7.65km in around 53 minutes. I was sorely tempted to do another 300 metres to click over the 8k but I figured I knew I could do that little bit more, and to do it would have meant running away from the campsite, and I knew there were pancakes and maple syrup waiting for me. So I didn’t. Now I’m regretting that choice a little bit, but I think I might head out and see if I can do 8k with Sinner in the morning.
I’ll get a picture or two up shortly.
It was Guinness’s turn this morning and as we were going camping, hubby didn’t have to go to work. There was no rush to get out and back, so Miss 7 decided to come with me. It meant I didn’t get any speedwork done, but that’s okay, she’s nice to have along. Again she did really well, and did the whole C25k week 1 program without stopping. She loves to run, and I think she’ll do well if she sticks with it. Â Looking forward to the weekend, Guinness has never been camping yet, I think he’ll enjoy it.
I’ve got my new orthotics, and they’re in my new shoes. Following the podiatrists advice, I only did 5km today to see how my legs felt with the new foot accessories. I ended up going out quite quickly, and had a comfortable run, so much so that I was hoping to go under 29 minutes for the 5km. Just missed out, doing 29.28 minutes, can’t complain about that. Sinner was a bit sluggish today, and my right shin was a bit tender. Not sore on the area where I had/have shin splints, but on the adjacent muscle which was bruised twice on Wednesday night, once when I walked into the A Frame at dog club, and once when I walked into the edge of the wooden futon at home. Don’t think orthotics can help that discomfort.
Poor Guinness hates me going out without him!! I can hear him crying as I walk up the driveway with Sinner, and I feel terribly guilty. I’ve decided that I’ll be working with each dog for two days a week. Sinner and I will do our long run on Monday and Friday, and on Tuesday and Thursday I’ll do Couch to 5k with Guinness, but I’ll go out fast to try and improve my speed. Guinness won’t mind at all, he’s got such long legs and covers the ground so smoothly, I’m sure I could do a 10 minute 100m sprint and he’d just cruise along beside me.
 Hubby suggested this morning that it’ll be nice when we can go out for a run together. I said I’d see about a babysitter for a couple of hours, and we could go up to Mt Mee. Might do that sooner rather than later, it’d be nice.
Going camping this weekend at Tin Can Bay and will have a run around the foreshore where the dolphins play. Should be very nice!
It was Guinness’s turn yesterday morning, we went out for our run/walk program and he was so keen to go, went to the box near the front door and brought his lead to me, bouncing all the way. I figured that the program he’s doing is fine for him but not challenging for me, so I decided to do the runs quite fast. That way I’d get a bit of a workout and he’d not have a problem with it - his legs are a mile long! So, that’s what we did - I was puffed, he had a good outing and is starting to run really well with me. Next week I’ll get him onto a bit more of a jog and a bit less of a walk.
 I also got back to the podiatrist yesterday afternoon and picked up my orthotics. Feel like I’m walking on high heels a bit. I’m to go out for a 5k run in them then take the next day off to see if I have any aches and pains. I was tempted to go out this morning but I banged my sore shin twice last night so was a bit achey, decided to have the morning off. I’ll go out tomorrow morning and take Friday off running, as we’ll be preparing to go camping and I’ll just take the dogs out for a walk.
Sinner went to agility class last night and was just excellent. He isn’t keen on the weave poles, so will need to practice that at home, it’s really the only thing limiting him. He’ll definitely graduate from beginners class. It’s so nice to be back into the sport.
I really must change the picture on this blog - it’s a cute pup but it’s not exactly athletic!
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